Improving patients’ access to an important COVID-19 medicine in the region
London, United Kingdom-Thursday 20 January 2022 [ AETOS Wire ]
Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (Hikma), the multinational pharmaceutical company, announces that it has entered into a license agreement with Medicine Patent Pool (MPP) for molnupiravir, MSD’s[1] investigational oral COVID-19 antiviral medicine, in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The sub-license agreement is a result of the voluntary licensing agreement signed by MPP and MSD in October 2021 to facilitate affordable global access for molnupiravir, which MSD is developing in partnership with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.
Under the terms of the agreement, Hikma will have rights to sublicense MSD patents and manufacturing know-how for molnupiravir. Hikma will be responsible for manufacturing and commercialising the product. The agreement allows or the supply of molnupiravir to 105 low and middle-income countries and Hikma will focus its efforts on the seven MENA markets where it has a presence.
“As a company whose mission is to put better health within reach every day, we are excited to partner with MPP and bring this important COVID-19 medicine to patients in MENA,” said Mazen Darwazah, Hikma’s Executive Vice Chairman and President of MENA. “This is another example of Hikma’s ongoing commitment to improve access to high-quality, affordable treatments and we look forward to delivering this needed medicine to patients.”
Hikma has worked hard during the pandemic to ensure healthcare professionals in the MENA region have the support they need to care for their patients, particularly during challenging times. This partnership with MPP furthers our work and helps equip doctors and patients in MENA with more treatment options.
About Molnupiravir
Molnupiravir (MK-4482) is an investigational, orally administered form of a potent ribonucleoside analog that inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. Molnupiravir has been shown to be active in several preclinical models of SARS-CoV-2, including for prophylaxis, treatment, and prevention of transmission. Additionally, pre-clinical and clinical data have shown molnupiravir to be active against the most common SARS-CoV-2 variants.
On Dec 23rd 2021, MSD and Ridgeback’s announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for molnupiravir for the Treatment of High-Risk Adults With Mild to Moderate COVID-19
[1] Trade name of Merck & Co., Inc, Kenilworth, NJ, USA
Contacts
Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC
Dana Alhusseini, Communications Manager
+962 (6) 5802900
Dalhusseini@hikma.com
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